Read daily most of up to dated on Central Asia News from the most reliable sources around the world.http://www.trcb.com/en-Us60Sat, 26 May 2012 09:06:11 ESTCopyright 2012 IWPR - Institute for War & Peace, TRCB.com All Right Reservedhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-mourn-uprising-victims-25684.htmNation pays its respects for the dead as new authorities attempt to stabilise the country. By Ainagul Abdrakhmanova in Bishkek (RCA No. 609, 9Apr-10)Thousands of people gathered in the centre of the capital Bishkek April 9 for the first of two days of Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-mourn-uprising-victims-25684.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/eyewitness-bishkek-unrest-25683.htmKyrgyz journalist recounts confrontation between protesters and government troops on the streets of Bishkek. By Urmat Imanaliev in Bishkek (RCA No. 609, 9Apr-10)I joined the column of protesters as it reached the Central Department Store in Bishkek at Fri, 09 Apr 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/eyewitness-bishkek-unrest-25683.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-leader-tries-to-rally-support-25625.htmDefiance comes as interim government announces plans for presidential election after bloody revolt. By Ainagul Abdrakhmanova, Timur Toktonaliev and Dina Tokbaeva in Bishkek (RCA No. 609, 8Apr-10)Kyrgyzstan president Kurmanbek Bakiev refused to step down Thu, 08 Apr 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-leader-tries-to-rally-support-25625.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/riot-deaths-amid-kyrgyz-turmoil-25569.htmThousands besiege presidents office as anger over spiralling prices explodes into political violence. By Timur Toktonaliev and Ainagul Abdurahmanova in Bishkek RCA No. 608, 07-Apr-10) The authorities in Kyrgyzstan have imposed a state of emergency Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/riot-deaths-amid-kyrgyz-turmoil-25569.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/tajik-power-company-calls-in-debts-25407.htmHigher electricity bills and tougher penalties for arrears are putting pressure on household consumers. By Nazarali Pirnazarov in Dushanbe (RCA No. 607, 03-Apr-10)Although winter power cuts in Tajikistan have ended earlier than expected, electricity Sat, 03 Apr 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/tajik-power-company-calls-in-debts-25407.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-government-faces-down-utilities-protests-25287.htmPoor people to be cushioned against price rises, but authorities insist everyone else must pay realistic share of energy costs. By Ainagul Abdrakhmanova in Bishkek (RCA No. 607, 01-Apr-10)A loosely-organised campaign is under way to force Kyrgyzstans Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-government-faces-down-utilities-protests-25287.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/central-asia-feb-mar-10-25169.htmKyrgyz advisory body on safety of journalists considering findings of IWPR reports on demise of investigative reporting. By Dina Tokbaeva in Bishkek (30-Mar-10)The Kyrgyz ombudsmen has said he is considering the inclusion of IWPR reports examining the Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/central-asia-feb-mar-10-25169.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/central-asia-febmar-10-25168.htmEducation proposals aired at IWPR events to be incorporated into parliamentary report. By Dina Tokbaeva in Bishkek (30-Mar-10)Recommendations aired during IWPR round tables on childrens education will be included in a parliamentary commission report on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/central-asia-febmar-10-25168.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/free-speech-fears-for-kazakstan-internet-25107.htmNew watchdog designed to monitor destructive website content, but could that include political debate as well as extremist literature? By Milana Orazbekova in Almaty (RCA No. 607, 29-Mar-10)A newly set-up internet watchdog in Kazakstan is an attempt to Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/free-speech-fears-for-kazakstan-internet-25107.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/central-asia-water-one-step-forward-25091.htmAttempts to forge region-wide consensus undermined by continuing mistrust. By Daulet Kanagatuly in Almaty, Inga Sikorskaya and Dina Tokbaeva in Bishkek, and Lola Olimova in Dushanbe (RCA No. 607, 29-Mar-10)While recent talks between Central Asian leaders Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/central-asia-water-one-step-forward-25091.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kazak-authorities-probe-flood-tragedy-24893.htmProsecutors investigating possible case of negligence after dam burst swamps village, killing 40. By Yana Bachevskaya in Taldykorgan, Daulet Kanagatuly and Nikolai Tsoy in Almaty (RCA No. 606, 25-Mar-10)The authorities in Kazakstan are investigating Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kazak-authorities-probe-flood-tragedy-24893.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-government-backs-microcredits-for-farmers-24894.htmAttempts to boost agriculture funding are welcome, but not enough, say experts. By Asyl Osmonalieva in Bishkek (RCA No. 606, 24-Mar-10)A new Kyrgyz government-backed microcredit organisation lending to small-scale subsistence farmers has been welcomed Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-government-backs-microcredits-for-farmers-24894.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/arguments-over-nationhood-in-kazakstan-24895.htmCompromise sought between American-style melting pot and monoethnic Kazak state. By Daulet Kanagatuly in Almaty (RCA No. 606, 17-Mar-10)The ongoing battle over a national vision for Kazakstan has highlighted the divide between those who want ethnic Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/arguments-over-nationhood-in-kazakstan-24895.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/managing-political-consensus-in-kyrgyzstan-24897.htmNew popular assembly seen as way of strengthening centralised control, not devolving decision-making. By Pavel Dyatlenko in Bishkek (RCA No. 605, 10-Mar-10)Analysts in Kyrgyzstan have expressed doubt about whether the Kurultay of Accord, a new Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/managing-political-consensus-in-kyrgyzstan-24897.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/tashkent-acts-to-cut-cross-border-trade-24896.htmClosing border checkpoint to cars reflects states hostility to small-time importers. By Ainagul Abdrakhmanova and Beksultan Sadyrkulov in Bishkek (RCA No. 605, 10-Mar-10)Uzbekistan has stopped vehicles using a border crossing to Kyrgyzstan, apparently Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/tashkent-acts-to-cut-cross-border-trade-24896.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/tajikistan-more-parties-dont-make-pluralism-24898.htmFive political parties instead of three now hold seats in parliament, but only one of them really counts. By Nargis Hamrabaeva and Lola Olimova in Dushanbe (RCA No. 605, 04-Mar-10)Tajikistans parliamentary election has ended as expected in victory for Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/tajikistan-more-parties-dont-make-pluralism-24898.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/uzbekistans-hidden-trials-24900.htmSecrecy of proceedings raises serious questions about due process. By Kamilla Abdullaeva in Uzbekistan (RCA No. 605, 03-Mar-10)Human rights defenders in Uzbekistan have discovered that trials of alleged Islamic radicals are taking place across the Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/uzbekistans-hidden-trials-24900.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-journalism-under-pressure-on-all-fronts-24899.htmTendency towards playing safe by avoiding controversial subject-matter. By Anara Yusupova in Bishkek (RCA No. 605, 03-Mar-10)A succession of newspaper closures and attacks on individual journalists is curbing the way press freedom is exercised in Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-journalism-under-pressure-on-all-fronts-24899.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/tajik-electoral-body-under-fire-as-polls-loom-24901.htmElection officials reject claims of inactivity levelled by OSCE observers. By Sanjar Hamidov in Dushanbe (RCA No. 604, 26-Feb-10)Tajikistans election commission has come under fire from an OSCE observer team, which accuses it of failing to deal Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/tajik-electoral-body-under-fire-as-polls-loom-24901.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-consumers-switched-off-by-phone-charges-24902.htmAnti-monopoly agency to investigate new fee charged by phone companies. By Asyl Osmonalieva in Bishkek (RCA No. 604, 24-Feb-10)The introduction of connection charges by leading mobile phone companies in Kyrgyzstan has prompted an investigation by the Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/kyrgyz-consumers-switched-off-by-phone-charges-24902.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/turkmen-governments-demolition-campaign-criticised-24904.htmEvicted residents struggle to get compensation as houses make way for roads and high-rise blocks. By Dovlet Ovezov in Ashgabat and Inga Sikorskaya in Bishkek (RCA No. 604, 23-Feb-10)Residents of properties being demolished across Turkmenistan to make way Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/turkmen-governments-demolition-campaign-criticised-24904.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/female-ex-cons-struggle-to-find-jobs-in-tajikistan-24903.htmLink to original story by Salimakhon Vahobzade published in RCA No. 597, 02-Dec-09. By Salimakhon Vahobzade in Dushanbe (RCA No. 604, 123-Feb-10)I have been reporting on the plight of prisoners ever since Soviet times, when I worked as a journalist for Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/female-ex-cons-struggle-to-find-jobs-in-tajikistan-24903.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/protests-mount-over-tajik-newspaper-lawsuits-24905.htmTo media-watchers, series of libel actions looks suspiciously like concerted campaign against free press ahead of election. By Aslibegim Manzarshoeva and Zarina Ergasheva in Dushanbe (RCA No. 604, 19-Feb-10)Libel actions against leading newspapers in Sat, 20 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/protests-mount-over-tajik-newspaper-lawsuits-24905.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/freeze-grips-kazakstan-24907.htmDeaths and disruption as country faces prolonged extreme weather conditions. By Natalya Napolskaya (RCA No. 604, 19-Feb-10)Prolonged freezing weather in Kazakstan has left people struggling to cope with a combination of extremely low temperatures and Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/freeze-grips-kazakstan-24907.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / Generalhttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/soaring-energy-costs-anger-kyrgyz-24906.htmStandard of living hit hard by steep rise in prices of electricity and central heating. By Timur Toktonaliev in Bishkek (RCA No. 604, 23-Feb-10)Sharp increases in the price of electricity and central heating have left many in Kyrgyzstan struggling to Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/central-asia/general/soaring-energy-costs-anger-kyrgyz-24906.htmTRCB.comNews Central Asia / General